The overall objectives of our study are to determine the capabilities of hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI to measure lung function and its potential to sensitively detect pulmonary disease and its progression in COPD. We hypothesize that measurement of alveolar surface area, septal thickness, and capillary transit time measured with hyperpolarized 129Xe will correlate better with quality of life measures in COPD subjects than traditional diagnostic measures such as spirometry and Computed Tomography.

Baseline Statistics of Healthy Subjects [ Time Frame: At the end of a 4 year study. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI scans will be performed on healthy subjects and the uptake of 129Xe in the pulmonary septal tissue will be measured as a function of time. From this data, the mean and distribution of three pulmonary functional parameters will be determined. The three measures are alveolar surface area per unit volume, septal thickness and capillary transit time through the gas exchange region.

Differences between healthy and diseased COPD subjects. [ Time Frame: At the end of a 4 year study. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI measures of disease severity in GOLD Stage 1-3 subjects are more highly correlated with physical disabilities associated with their pulmonary disease than traditional tests of pulmonary function.

Spatial Heterogeneity [ Time Frame: At the end of a 4 year study. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Determine the degree to which the spatial heterogeneity of regional 129Xe measurements of pulmonary function in a single individual correlates with physical manifestations of disease severity. We hypothesize that measures of spatial heterogeneity will correlate highly with physical disability.

All subjecs will inhale hyperpolarized 129Xe gas and then have a MRI scan performed to measure lung function.

Drug: Hyperpolarized 129Xe gas

800cc of a gas mixture containing 129Xe and nitrogen will be inhaled by a subject. The subject will hold their breath for no more than 16 seconds while a MRI scan is performed. The gas mixture can contain between 20 and 100% xenon.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01697332